Functional receptors for neurotransmitters on astroglial cells

A role for protein kinase C in astrocyte glycogen metabolism

Astrocytes accumulated 2-[3H]deoxyglucose (2-DG) from the incubation medium and incorporated a proportion of it into glycogen. When cells were exposed to the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or the diacylglycerol analogue, dioctanoylglycerol, there was a 30% reduction in the amount of 3H recovered in the glycogen pool. This effect was abolished in cells which had been depleted of protein kinase C (PKC) by prior exposure to PMA. Activation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin caused an increase (40%) in glycogen labelling indicating enhanced glycogen turnover. However, this effect was potentiated when astrocytes were incubated with forskolin and PMA in combination. We suggest that there is an interaction between PKC and adenylate cyclase in the regulation of astrocyte glycogen metabolism.

Characteristics of phorbol ester- and agonist-induced down-regulation of astrocyte receptors coupled to inositol phospholipid metabolism

We have examined some of the characteristics of phorbol ester- and agonist-induced down-regulation of astrocyte receptors coupled to phosphoinositide metabolism. Our results show that preincubation of [3H]inositol-labelled astrocyte cultures with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) resulted in a time- (t 1/2, 1-2 min) and concentration-dependent (IC50, 1 nM) decrease in the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates (IP) evoked by muscarinic receptor stimulation. Much longer (30-40 min) preincubation periods with higher concentrations (IC50, 600 microM) were required to elicit the same effect with the receptor agonist carbachol. Following preincubation, agonist-stimulated [3H]IP accumulation recovered with time; in both cases pretreatment levels of inositol lipid metabolism were attained within 2 days. Both phorbol ester and agonist pretreatments were also effective in reversing the carbachol-evoked mobilisation of 45Ca2+ in these cells. However, their effects on phosphoinositide metabolism were found not to be additive. Although neither pretreatment affected the incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphoinositides, both resulted in a loss of membrane muscarinic receptors as assessed by [3H]N-methylscopolamine binding. In washed membranes prepared from [3H]inositol-labelled cultures, the guanine nucleotide analogue, guanosine 5'-O-thiotriphosphate (GTP-gamma-S), caused a dose-dependent increase in [3H]IP formation. This response was enhanced when carbachol was also included in the incubation medium, although the agonist alone was without effect. Pretreatment with either PMA or carbachol had no effect on GTP-gamma-S-stimulated [3H]IP accumulation but did reduce the ability of carbachol to augment this response. Similar findings were obtained when membranes were exposed directly to PMA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Astrocytes as eicosanoid-producing cells

A variety of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, together with thromboxane and prostacyclin metabolites, can be detected in central nervous tissues and in cerebrospinal fluid. Defined cultures of astrocytes have revealed these cells to be a major source of eicosanoids. In common with other eicosanoid-producing cells, agents such as calcium ionophores and phorbol esters are potent stimuli for promoting release. While in other tissues agonists for receptors linked to calcium mobilisation prompt eicosanoid release, this does not seem to be the case in astrocytes, though a range of such receptors are present. The notable exceptions to this observation are adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate, presumably acting through P2 purinergic receptors. Many cell types in the CNS are targets for eicosanoids, possessing receptors linked to adenylate cyclase or phospholipase C. An appreciation of the functional significance of activation of these receptors is just now beginning. Eicosanoids have effects in the CNS that involve not only the vascular supply but also synaptic modulation and immune regulation.

Neurons from substantia nigra increase the efficacy and potency of second messenger arising from striatal astroglia dopamine receptor

Dopamine (D1) receptors were demonstrated to be present on astroglial cells from striatum in primary culture. In a cocultivation system, the astrocytes were influenced by neurons from one of their natural projection areas (substantia nigra) to increase the efficacy and potency of second messenger (cyclic AMP) from the dopamine receptor. This provides evidence for a heterogeneity among astroglia from the various brain regions with respect to the expression of receptors.